for·est (fôr'ĭst, fŏr'-)
n.

1. A dense growth of trees, plants, and underbrush covering a large area.
2. Something that resembles a large, dense growth of trees, as in density, quantity, or profusion: a forest of skyscrapers.
3. A defined area of land formerly set aside in England as a royal hunting ground.

tr.v., -est·ed, -est·ing, -ests.
To plant trees on.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin forestis (silva), outside (forest), from Latin forīs, outside.]

forestal for'est·al or fo·res'tial (fə-rĕs'chəl) adj.
forestation for'es·ta'tion n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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